Desiccating apparatus.



0. E. & l. S. MERRELL.

DESICCATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 4. 1910.

Patented May 16, 1916.

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' 0. E. & s. MERRELLQ DESIECATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR- 4. 1910.

Patented May 16,1916.

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I I I. IIIIIIL 4 l MIMI-mill M! 1 m ,nl hllllll auvemtoz GUM/mu MSWMLIFUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. oL Iv nR Enwnm) mmmnm .Alvn IRVING sEAwLnDMERRELL, or sYnAousE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS TO MERRELL-SOULE coMPANY, orsYnAoUsE, NEW YORK, A

CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

nnsrccn'rme APPARATUS.

--Specification of Letterslatent.

7 Application filed April 4, 1910. Serial No. 553,444.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that we, OLIVEREDWARD MER- BELL and IRVING SEAWARD MERRELL,of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in the State of New York, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Desiccating Apparatus, of whichthe following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is afull, clear, and exact description.

3 This invention relates to an apparatus for obtaining the solids fromorganic liquids in the formof a substantially dry powder which may bereturned again to its origina liquid form by the addition of a suitableamount of water without any substantial impairment of the distinguishingcharacteristics of the original liquid.

The invention is especially applicable to and intended for the drying oforganic liquids having'a high moisture content, such as milk and eggs.If the milk istreated, it maybe in its original condition, or the creammay be first removed; and, in either case, themilk (whole or skimmed)may be condensed or concentrated before subjecting a it to-thedesiccating operation. Cream may also be dried to a powder by the newprocess.

' The present apparatus is an improvement "upon the invention set forthin United States Letters Patent of :Robert Stauf, No.

' 666,711, January 29, 1901.

The successful and commercial drying to a powder of such organicsubstances as milk and eggs having a high moisture content by thespraying process requires.that there should be employed a large volumeof air in proper moisture absorbing conditionand that the drying shouldbe wholly accomplished before the powder is separated from the air and.collects upon the receiving or collecting surfaces. It is also desirablethat the temperature of the current of drying air should be as low asconsistent with proficiency to avoid any substantial alteration in thecharacteristics of the desiccated product. Also, it is important forcommercial practice that the desiccating chamber should be small andthat the-rapidity of .the opera tion should be great in ordenthat alarge amount of the organic liquid should be dried within a given lengthof time.

The present invention consists in novel apparatus which a newdesiccating process is carried out in an economical and efliclent mannerfor the productlon of a dried powder from organic substances such asYiilk and eggs in which the normal charactrunk through which heated airis forced Patented May 16, 1916.

into the desiccating chamber by a suitable air bloweror pump; C, is anair whirling chamber between the wind trunk and the desiccating chamber;and D, D, are spray nozzles for the organic liquid, such as milk oreggs, which spray-the liquid into the desiccating chamber within anenvelop of ing chamber C. H

The air whirhng chamber 1s c1rcular in cross section, and 11: receivesheated air from the trunk B, through a plurality of tangenthe whirlingair delivered by the'air whirl.-

ber C, and each has a mouth a, communicating with the interior ofthe'trunk B, and a discharge port 6, communicating with the interior ofchamber C. The air is forced from the trunk through these tangentialchannels and is set into rapid whirling motion by the cylindrical wallsof the air whirling chamber. The axis of chamber 0, as

shown,,is horizontal and at right angles to' one of the walls 0, of thedesiccating chamber A. The passage F froni"the chamber C, to chamber A,is conical; so that the outlet opening G, of chamber C, is a circle ofless diameter than that of chamber C. The

plural equally spaced channels E, insure a uniform distribution of theair; and the contracted outlet adds to its discharge velocity. Thewhirling air passes spirally through and out of chamber C, and issuesinto the desiccating chamber in the form of an ex- "pending rotating andadvancing volume of airof large capacity enveloping and" surrounding theportion of the'interior of the p application for Letters Patent of theUnited States Serial No. 316,115, filed-May 10, 1906, of Paul Bevenotand Edward De Neveu, now issued in Letters Patent No. 1,020,632.. Incase air spray nozzles are employed several are employed within 1 theair whirling chamber, three beingshown. In case hydraulic pressure spraynozzles are employed a single one may be employed in the lllustratedinstallation owing to its greater'ca'pacity as compared with the airspray nozzles. Each air nozzle shown com-' prises an air outlet and a,liquid outlet.

The liquid outlet is at the end of a.

liquid supply pipe H, which extends beyond the rear wall d,- of thetrunk B,.,to.the liquid supply reservoir. The 'air outlet is at the endof an air pipe I, which surrounds the pipe H, and extends beyond therear wall (1,

of the trunk B, to any suitable source of compressed air, such as ablower or pump which forces the air through the pipe I, under suflicientpressure to convert the liquid issuing from the pipe H, into a finespray. These pipes H, I, extend horizontally, and the group of them iscentrally located withinthe chamber C. Each pipe I,

' of the rear wall 6, of the air whirling cham-- is located within andis sustained by an 1nclosing tube J, which is fastened to the rear walld, of the trunk B.

The rear walld, of the trunk B, isback ber C. i The group of tubes .J issurrounded by a cylindrical drum K, centrally located within theair-whirling chamber and open.

at its rear (at f,) to the trunk B. At its forward end it has an airdischarge'cone L, within the cone F, so that it has a contracted opening9, into the desiccating chamber A.

The drum K,.thus provides direct air passages surrounding the nozzlesupporting tubes J, from trunk B, to the chamber A.

.The drum K, converts chamber C, into an annular passage wi thconcentric outer and inner walls, thus aiding materially in theproduction ofthe whirling current of air.

The angle of cone F, is more acute than that of cone L, thus contractingthe discharge opening G, of chamber-C, and thereby re- I tarding theescape of the air.

In order that the apparatus may be fully" understood, the details of onepractical 1nstallation will be given. A volumetric air blower capable ofdriving a large volume of air is employed having a blower discharge ofone hundred and thirty three square inches; and the blower speed isfour. teen hundred (14.00), revolutions-a mlnut.

This requires about four (4) horsepower.

The air. pressure within the trunk B, is three quarters (.7 5) ouncesper square inch. Such a blower will deliver about twenty-five hundredi(2500) cubic feet-ofair per minute to the desiccating chamber. Theinternal length from front to rear of'the trunk B, is twenty-four .(24)inches and its width is thirty-two (32) inches. The internal diameter ofchamber C, is twenty (20) inches,

and the length of the cylindrical part of said chamber is'nineteen'andone-half (19%) inches. The hei ht of cone F, is five and three fourths(5. 5) inches; and the internal diameter of the opening G, is twelve andone-half (12%)-inches. The internal diameter of the drum K, is ten (1'0)inches; the length of the inclined wall of cone L, is five andone-fourth (5.25) inches; and the internal'diameter ofthe dischargeopening of the drum is seven (7 inches. The width of each channel E, istwo (2) inches. The desiccating chamber A, is eight and one-half (8.feet high, eleven (11) feet long from the air-inlet G, to the oppositeWall, and is eight (8) feet wide. The moisture laden air passes outthroughany suitable screened opening or foraminous dust collector, suchas that of the Merrell, Gere and 'Merrell United States Letters PatentNo. 860,929, July 23, 1907. The air is introduced within the trunk B,after being heated by passage over steam coils the heating being suchthat the average temperature within the chamber A, is one hundredandsixty-four (164) degrees Fahrenheit.

1 00 The external diameter of each tube vJ, is'two and fiveeighths(2.625) inches. The internal diameter of the liquid outlet from the pipeH, is one-sixteenth (.0625) of an inch, and

' the internal diameter of the outlet from the air pipe I is on'e-eighth(.125) of an inch. The pressure of the air suppliedtoeach pipe I isthirty (30) pounds per square 1nch. The

relative location of the outlets from the drum and air whirling chamberwith respect to the spray nozzle is properly shown in the drawings; thenozzles being within the drum outlet; and the drum .outlet within theair whirling chamber outlet. The screened outlet from the desiccatingchamber, the air m blowers, and the heating coils are not shown sincethey may be same as in said Merrell,

Gere and Merrell patent. These details are subject to variationdepending upon practical conditions, such as the initial dryness of theair, the amount of moisture in the'milk or other organic liquid, thequantity to be treated, andthe pressure in the steam coils. The amountof air supplied must be regulated to corres ond with its initialcondition,

:the heating e ect of the steam coils and the character and quantity ofthe liquid to be treated; expertness in whichcan be secured only throughpractical exper ence,

' In operating the present apparatus, the

' whirling air in large volume issues from the the rotating mass of airso that the incoming heated, rotated air occupies alarge propor-' tionof the space of the desiccating chamber.

. Into the middle of this rotating and agitated advancing mass ofmoisture absorbingair,

. the organic liquid is forced by the propelling action of the sprayingdevices aided'by the direct current of surrounding moisture ab- "sorbingair issuing from the drum. The

force of the spray added to the direct current of air through the drumprevents any portion of the liquid being carried back into eatingchamber.

the drum or into the air whirling chamber 1 due to back eddiescreated bythe rotating air. The spray enters the desiccating chamber enveloped andsurrounded by the whirling envelop of heated air and no particle of thespray can reachv the walls of the desiccating chamber except by passingthrough this whirling envelop. In such passage each particle of spraymust pass through an extendedpath, since as soon as a particle of spraystrikes the whirling envelop it is carried around and is not permittedto drop directly by gravity on to the floor of the desic- The whirlingair is detained within the desiccating chamber by reason of its rotarymotion, there being no direct passage of the rotating air from the airwhirling chamber to the discharge outlet of the desiccating chamber.

' spray is subjected to along exposure to the heated whirling envelop ofair into the middle'of which the spray is driven, and therev is athorough dissipation of the spray so that every particle thereof issubjected to prolonged contact with moisture absorbing air. The resultis that when the powder escapes from the air whirl and is eventuallydeposited-upon the outlet screen or upon the walls 'of the desiccatingchamber it-is so completelydried that it contains no amount of moisturewhich is suflicient to cause any deterioration .in the quality of thepowder when kept for a prolonged period of, time. Indeed, in the case ofmilk, it is practicable to so dry the milk powder that no moisture canbe ascertained to be present beyond the water of crystallization of themilk sugar.

The new apparatus provides for ejecting the organic liquid byflmeans ofa spray nozzle or nozzlesinto an enveloping whirling .ma'ss I .ofmoisture'absorbing air during the passage of such air through adesiccating, separating and c llecting am er, The dry p der is Thegeneral effect is to thoroughly agitate and "spread Hence, the

collected within the desiccating chamber and on its outlet screenseparated from the'air current; while the air and vapor are dis chargedthrough the screened outlet separately from the dry powder.-

since the direct current of envelo'pingair breaks the vacuum at thecenterof the Vortex and entirely prevents the deposit of particles ofthe substance treated on the spraying apparatus.

We claim: I

1. The combination of a desiccatin'gchamber; a circular air whirlingchamber having a conical discharge passage'leading to'said desiccatingchamber, and having a plurality of tangential equally spaced inlets awind trunk delivering heated air under pressure to said tangentialinlets; a circular drum within said air whirling chamber open at itsrear end to the wind trunk and having aconical outlet to the desiccatingchamber with-. in the conical passage from the air whlrling chamber, thelatter cone being more acutev .than the former; and a plurality ofspray.

nozzles within the outlet from said drum iforcibly ejecting spray intothe desiccating chamber; and organic liquid supply pipes extendingthrough said drum and delivering liquid-to said nozzles- 2. Thecombination of a desiccating cham ber; a circular air whirling chamberhaving discharge passage leading'to said desiccating chamber, and havinga plurality of tangential inlets; a wind trunk delivering a cur-' rentof heated'air to said tangential inlet; a circular drum within said airwhirling chamber open at its rear end to an air supplying current andhaving an outlet to the desiccating chamber; and a spray nozzle withinthe outlet from said drum forcibly ejectingsp ray i nto thedesiccatingchamber; and an organic liquid supply pipe delivering liquidtosaidnozzle. I

-3. The combination of a desiccat ng chamber; an air whirling chamberhaving a dis--.

charge to said desiccating chamber, and having a plurality of tangentialinlets; and a wind trunk delivering a current of air to saidtangentialinlets.

4. The combination of a desiccating 'chainber; a circular air whirlingchamber having a conical discharge passage leading to i said desiccatingchamber; a wind trunk delwer- 30 and just in front thereof.

60 spray.

ing a current of air to said air-whirling chamber; a circular drumwithin said air whirling chamber open at its rear end to an airsupplying current and having a conical outlet to the desiccating chamberwithin the conical'passage from the air-whirling chamber,- the-lattercone being more acute than the former; and a liquid supply nozzle withinthe outlet from said drum.

5. The combination of a desiccating chamber, an air whirling chamberhaving a discharge to said desiccating'chamber; a wind trunk deliveringa current of air to said airwh1rl1ng chamber; a drum w1th1n sald airwhirling chamber open at its rear end to an air supplying current andhaving an outlet to the desiccating chamber within the outlet passagefrom the air whirling chamber; and

a spray nozzle within the outlet from said drum ejecting spray into thedesiccating chamber.

6. The combination of a desiccating chamber; a plurality of spraynozzles ejecting sprayed organic liquid into said chamber;

and an air conveying drum surrounding said spraynozzles and dischargingair into said chamber, said drum having a converging outlet to saidchamber terminating in the vicinity of the outlets from the spraynozzles 7 The combination of a desiccating chamher; a spray nozzleinjecting sprayed organic liquid into said chamber; means for whirlingsaid spray; and an air conveying drum surrounding said spray nozzle anddischarging air into said chamber.

8. The combination of a desiccating chamher; aspray nozzle injectingsprayed organic liquid into said chamber; and an 40 air conveying drumsurrounding said spray nozzle and discharging air into said I chamber.

9. The combination with a desiccating chamber of means for injecting acurrent of air into said chamber, means for giving to said air current.a whirling motion, means for injecting sprayed liquid into said cham-.her in substantially the same general longitudinal direction in whichthe air passes into the chamber, and within said air current,

whereby the sprayed liquidis enveloped and carried forward bysaid aircurrent and the' liquid constituents completely vaporized. 10. The,combination with a desiccating a chamber of a spray 'nozzle adapted todis charge sprayed liquid into said chamber,,an d

-means for surrounding the spray with an envelop offorcibly projectedwhirling air moving ,in the same general'direction as the:

11. The comb chamber of means" for introducing into said chamber aliquid in a finely divided condition, and means for surro nding the"finely with a desiccating ing body of air,

divided liquid with anenvelop of forcibly projected whirling airintroduced under pressure and moving in the same direction as thefinelydivided liquid.

12. The combination with a desiccating chamber of means for introducinga whirling body of air into the chamber, means for said chamber,'in sucha manner that the.

sprayed liquid is enveloped and carriedforward by the a ir cur rent.

14. The combination w th a dessicating chamber of a spray nozzle adaptedto dis charge sprayed liquid into said chamber, and

means for surrounding the spray with an envelop of forcibly projectedair moving in the same general direction as thespray.

. 15. The combination .with a, desiccating chamber of means forintroducing into said chamber a liquid in a finely divided condition,and means for surrounding thefinely divided liquid with an envelop offorcibly projected air introduced under pressure and moving in the samedirection as 'the finely divided liquid.

16. The combination with a desiccating chamber of means for introducinga liquid in a finely divided conditioninto said chamber, and means forcausing a drying agent to travel around the finely divided liquid insubstantially the same general direction with the liquid.

17. A desiccating apparatus comprising a' desiccating chamber, means fordischarging liquid to be desiccated thereinto, means for dischargingheated gas thereinto and means for holding said liquid in suspensiontherein.

18. The combination with a desiccating chamber of a spray nozzle adaptedto'discharge sprayed liquid into said chamber, means for surrounding thespray with an envelop of forcibly projected air moving in.

the same generaldirection as the spray, and means for surrounding saidenvelop of air with awhirling body of air.

' 19. The combination with a desiccating chamber of means forintroducing into said vf'chamber a liquid in a-finelydivided condition,means for surrounding the finely divided liquid with an envelop offorcibly projected air introduced under .pressureand moving insubstantially the same direction as the finely 'divided liquid, andmeans for surrounding said envelop of air with a spray nozzle within theinner 20. In a desiccating apparatus, air chambers arranged one withinthe other and having substantially concentric discharge openings, and aspray nozzle within the inner chamber adapted to direct spray throughsaid discharge openings and into the air forcibly projected from saidair chambers.

21. In a desi'ccating apparatus, air chambers arranged one within theother and having substantially concentric discharge openings terminatingin different planes, and a chamber adapted to direct spray through saiddischarge openings and into the air forcibly projected from said airchambers.

22. In a desiccating apparatus, air chambers arranged one within theother and tapered forwardly at their front ends to form substantiallyconcentric contracted discharge-outlets one within the other, and aspray nozzle within the inner chamber adapted to direct spray throughsaid discharge outlets and into the air forcibly projected from said airchambers.

23. In a desiccating apparatus, substantially cylindrical air chambersarranged one .within the other and having substantially concentricdischarge openings, the outer of said air chambers having a tangentialinlet for the air, and a spray nozzle within the inner chamber adaptedto direct spray through said discharge openings and into the airforcibly projected from said. air chambers.

24. In a desiccating apparatus, substantially cylindrical air'chambersarranged one Within the other and tapered forwardly at their front'endsto form substantially concentric contracted discharge outlets one withinthe other, the outer of said air chambers having a tangential inlet forthe air, and a spray nozzle within the inner chamber adapted to directspray through saiddischarge outlets and into the air forcibly projectedfrom said air chambers.

25. In a desiccating apparatus, airchambers arranged one within theother and having substantially concentric discharge openings terminatingin diiferent planes, and a spraynozzle positioned within the inner ofsaid air chambers and terminating at the rear of the discharge openingfrom said inner chamber and adapted to direct spray through saiddischarge openings and into the air forcibly projected from said airchambers.

In witness whereof We have hereunto set our hands on this 25th day ofMarch 1910.

OLIVER EDIVARD MERRELL. IRVING SEAWARD MERRELL.

\Vitnesses:

H. E. CHASE, HOWARD P. DENISON.

